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12-09-07, 12:29 PM
I was at the LBS a couple weeks ago and saw that they had some Panaracer Spike V studded tires for $20 each. I had been considering getting some studded tires for winter MTBing and wanting to support the LBS I figured these would do. I ended up buying 4 for mine and my wife’s bike.
After the fact I did a bit of research and realized that these were not the best tires and many people had gotten them cheaper. Even so I figured they’d work alright for at least one winter. I was wrong. These tires are junk.
The first time I used them I lost 25 studs from my rear tire. It was 15F and we were riding on very tame MTB trails with about 2" of snow over partially frozen ground. We only ended up staying out for about 1/2 hour because my wife's feet got cold. So there you have it, 25 studs in 1/2 hour in conditions for which this tire should have been designed. I took the bike out for about 2hrs in 35F weather with wet snow on the trails, and now have only a handful of studs remaining in my rear tire. My front has lost about 2 dozen. My wife’s tires have also lost the majority of their studs.
When these tires were made the designers had to know that they would not hold up for even one ride, yet they were sold anyway. I have a real problem with a company that would do this. I had been considering buying some Panaracer Fire XC tires in the spring, but I now will try another company's product.
I'm going to contact the LBS, but I don’t know if I can expect them to do much. I may end up stuck with four tires I don’t want. Not wanting to waste them, I’ll probably end up riding the better part of next year on POS tires when I’d rather be running something else.
After the fact I did a bit of research and realized that these were not the best tires and many people had gotten them cheaper. Even so I figured they’d work alright for at least one winter. I was wrong. These tires are junk.
The first time I used them I lost 25 studs from my rear tire. It was 15F and we were riding on very tame MTB trails with about 2" of snow over partially frozen ground. We only ended up staying out for about 1/2 hour because my wife's feet got cold. So there you have it, 25 studs in 1/2 hour in conditions for which this tire should have been designed. I took the bike out for about 2hrs in 35F weather with wet snow on the trails, and now have only a handful of studs remaining in my rear tire. My front has lost about 2 dozen. My wife’s tires have also lost the majority of their studs.
When these tires were made the designers had to know that they would not hold up for even one ride, yet they were sold anyway. I have a real problem with a company that would do this. I had been considering buying some Panaracer Fire XC tires in the spring, but I now will try another company's product.
I'm going to contact the LBS, but I don’t know if I can expect them to do much. I may end up stuck with four tires I don’t want. Not wanting to waste them, I’ll probably end up riding the better part of next year on POS tires when I’d rather be running something else.